Essex County Council has said it is facing a significant problem of families being moved by London boroughs into the county, though it has no proof of families being shipped out after being ruled “intentionally homeless”.

But leader, Councillor David Finch, said he is reluctant to “name and shame” boroughs in London that are moving families into Essex.

He said: “We can certainly confirm that individual families are being moved out of London into Essex, both into Tendring and Harlow.

“I do not know if they are being ruled as intentionally homeless. Certainly families who are in difficulties are being moved out.

“Certainly any authority or London borough should have given us a section 208 notice, but that is not the case.”

David Finch confirmed families are being moved out of London and into Essex

A section 208 notice comes under the Housing Act 1996. It states that if a local housing authority rehomes anyone outside of their district then they need to give notice to the local housing authority in whose district the accommodation is situated.

The notice should include details about the person, or persons, who are being moved to the area and should be given within 14 days after the individual was offered the accomodation.

Cllr Finch added: “There will be an impact on Essex County Council and other authorities including the police.

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“I do know of one London borough which is culpable and it is on my radar to have it raised with the leader of that borough.

“I do not wish to name them at this point in time, but it is appropriate to get in touch.”

The council has said significant numbers of families “in difficulties” are being uprooted from their neighbourhoods and dumped further and further away from the capital, cut off from their relatives and support networks.

Ray Gooding, cabinet member for Education and Skills added: “This is a significant problem. There is an issue in Tendring and particularly in Harlow.”

Robert Halfon MP (Image: 2Trom News Group)

The MP for Harlow, Robert Halfon, said: "This is a big problem and it is very serious.

“There are three things we need to look at. The first is why are London councils shipping people to Harlow?

“The second is that if the families are being moved here, then the councils should be giving us more resources.

“These families have significant difficulties, some are troubled families who have disadvantaged backgrounds.

“And thirdly, we need more housing.”

Mr Halfon explained that the government allowed for old office blocks to be turned into flats, however he claims these blocks are being used to house the incoming London families.

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He explained that the policy allows for new housing developments to be established “rapidly”, without the need for “full planning permission”.

In a letter to the government, Mr Halfon said: “Over recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of offices being converted to residential dwellings under permitted development rights.

“Whilst this applies across Essex, Harlow has seen around a dozen of such developments, for example Redstone House, Templefields House, Terminus House and Greenway House, which are in isolated employment areas.

“Primarily, these developments house single people or families with children who have presented as homeless, placed in Harlow by London Boroughs.

“Only people who are considered vulnerable will be picked up for assessment, so those being moved will have either young families or physical or mental impairments, which can include substance abuse.

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“This means that many people who come here will have additional needs.”

In the letter Mr Halfon goes on to explain that the “high numbers” of people being moved into the town from London were putting pressure on local services, schools and are detrimental to the individuals themselves.

He asks the government to look again at its policy of converting the office blocks into flats.

Additionally he asks for funds to provide the care that the newcomers need and to bring the existing office conversions into the planning system, to ensure they comply with local requirements.